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The Energy Charter Secretariat is pleased to present the third edition of its flagship publication ─ Energy Investment Risk Assessment (#EIRA2020). The report evaluates legal and regulatory risks to energy investments in 30 countries spanning Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, #EIRA2020 will be launched virtually through Zoom on 6 October 2020 at 10:00 am (CET).

The presentation of #EIRA2020 will be followed by interventions from high-level...

On 8-11 September 2020, the Second Negotiation Round on the modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) was held by videoconference¹. 

Taking into account the list of agreed topics for modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty (see Conference Decision CCDEC 2018 18) and the suggested policy options for modernisation of the ECT (see Conference Decision CCDEC 2019 08), the Modernisation Group has discussed this Round the following topics:

• Transit 

• Definition of ‘transit’ 
• Access to...

On 23 July 2020 experts of the EU4Energy Project held an online meeting on natural gas market reforms in the Republic of Belarus. From Minsk the meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Energy and “Beltopgaz”.

Prior to the meeting the comprehensive Report on Natural Gas Market Reform was submitted to the Ministry of Energy for consideration and comments. During the meeting discussion went around the main findings of the Report, comparative analysis of Belarus, EAEU and EU gas...

As part of the general discussion, Kluwer Arbitration Blog has launched a week-long series offering different perspectives on the ECT Modernisation Process. The series was opened by an introductory post of the Secretary-General of the International Energy Charter,  Dr Urban Rusnák, setting the scene and the historical background leading to the current negotiations. 

“I am convinced that the Contracting Parties will be able to raise the common denominator to make the Energy Charter Treaty 2.0...

The Energy Charter Secretariat was very saddened to learn about the passing away of Mr. Yagshigeldy Kakayev, a former Chair of the Energy Charter Conference during Turkmenistan’s Chairmanship in 2017.  

Mr. Kakayev, who held the position of an advisor on oil and gas matters to the President of Turkmenistan, was known as a prominent Turkmen statesman and a long-term high-profile member of the Turkmenistan Government.  For many years he was a very active figure in the oil and gas sector of the...

On 3 July, the Secretary General of the Energy Charter held a videoconference call with His Excellency Mr Parviz Shahbazov, Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan and Chair of the Energy Charter Conference this year.  

Keeping in line with the tradition of regular update and communication, the parties discussed a number of matters relevant to both the Chairmanship and the current activities within the Energy Charter Process.  In particular, H.E. Minister Shahbazov was updated on the recent meetings...

On 6 November 2019 (see Conference Decision CCDEC 2019 10), the Energy Charter Conference established and mandated the Modernisation Group to start negotiations on the modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty, with a view to conclude negotiations expeditiously.  

The First Negotiation Round on the Modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty took place on 6-9 July 2020 by videoconference. 

Initial proposals and discussion papers were presented and discussed in detail by the delegations. The...

The Energy Charter Secretariat (ECS),  together with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the International Mediation Institute (IMI), the Singapore International Mediation Institute (SIMI), the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) and UNCITRAL are organizing an expert roundtable on investment mediation. 

On 19 June 2020, the International Energy Charter Industry Advisory Panel (IAP) welcomed SolarPower Europe as its newest member. 

SolarPower Europe represents over 200 upstream and downstream organisations from the entire solar value chain. The aim of the organisation is to shape the regulatory environment and enhance business opportunities for solar power in Europe and to ensure that solar energy is the leading contributor to the Europe's energy system. SolarPower Europe's mission is to shape...

As part of the ongoing public discussion on the Energy Charter Treaty and its role in the energy transition the Secretary General Dr. Urban Rusnak of the International Energy Charter was approached by Karel Beckman for an interview for the www.borderlex.eu portal. The full text can be read in the pdf link below: 

A new Energy Charter Treaty as complement to the Paris Agreement

Information about the claims has been compiled on the basis of public sources, including specialised reporting services. Since 2001, when the first case invoking the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) was registered, the Energy Charter Secretariat tracked 130 publicly known investment arbitration cases where the ECT was invoked (sometimes together with a bilateral investment treaty). The ECT remains the most frequently invoked international investment agreement.

The Secretariat welcomes any...

On 4 June 2020, the Energy Charter Secretariat held a video conference with the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia which will be acting as the entity in charge of the Energy Charter Conference in next year. Mr Hakob Vardanyan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure and Vice-Chair of the 2021 Conference, who led the conference call, was joined by Mr Tigran Melqonyan, the Head of Energy Department. The Secretariat’s team...

On 14 May 2020, the Energy Charter Secretariat held a video conference with the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan which is also acting as the entity in charge of the Energy Charter Conference this year. Mr Samir Valiyev, Deputy Minister of Energy and Vice-Chair of the Conference, who led the conference call, was joined by the Ministry officials representing its legal department, the departments of international cooperation, energy efficiency and oil and gas. The Secretariat’s team...

On 29 April 2020, the Energy Charter Secretariat hosted a technical webinar with the Republic of Uzbekistan on the implementation of the Investment Facilitation Toolbox. Participation included the Energy Charter Secretary-General Dr Urban Rusnák, Mr Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov (First Deputy Minister of Energy of the Republic of Uzbekistan) and Amb Dilyor Khakimov (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Kingdom of Belgium)

On 28 April 2020, the Energy Charter Secretariat, headed by the Secretary General, held a video conference call with high representatives of the Turkmenistan government led by Mr Y Kakayev, Special Advisor to the President of Turkmenistan on oil and gas matters and by Mr Berdiniyaz Matiyev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Other participants included Deputy Ministers of Finance, Justice, and Energy, and Deputy Chairmen of Turkmengaz and Turkmenneft State Concerns. The conference call was...